Toy train



0d. 10, 1944. A E, HlKLiNGk 2,360,030

TOY TRAIN Filed 0G11. 1B, 1943 Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TRAIN Edith Hickiing, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Frank J. Hickling, Minneapolis, Minn.

4 Claims.

Tlnis invention relates to improvements in toy trains, and more particularly to structures that are designed to .be readily separated and reassembled.` Broadly, the invention comprises a plurality of pieces that are designed to be secured together by means of pins, preferably of wood. The general outline of the blocks or p-ieces is that of a toy railway engine and tender, and railway cars.

One object of the invention is to devise a plurality of pieces which when assembled forms a wheeled toy such as an articulate train consisting of two or more cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will amuse and instruct children in taking apart and re-assembling the pieces. Such a take-apart structure increases the childs powers of observation in relationship of the parts of and assembling of railway trains as well as other objects.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a locomotive and tender;

Figure 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modied form of the invention.

In the drawing is disclosed a locomotive as one unit and a coal tender as the second unit but it is to be understood that other and/or additional units or cars may be made which fall within the scope of the appended claims but each unit or car regardless of its nature should consist of an upper block and a lower black hav ing a thinner member be-tween the blocks and the three members secured together by a pin or pins or the equivalent. Suitable couplings may be employed between units where a full train is desired.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the locomotive II) consists of boiler member 2B, a relatively thin intermediate member I9, and a lower member I I. Near one end of the member II is secured axle block I2 and into this block extends axle I 3. The axle extends beyond the ends of the block a sufcient length to receive wheels I4. The rotatable Wheels are held in place by suitable means such as threaded nuts I5. An axle I1 for supporting the larger wheel I8 is secured in an opening in member II. These wheels are held in place by nuts I5 or any other suitable means.

In the boiler member 2G is opening 39 in which is suitably secured stack respresenting member 23. Another opening 4U is provided in boiler member 20 in which is suitably secured member 24. In the bottom side of the boiler member 28 are openings 4I and 45 in which are secured pins 22 and 44.

Pin 22 passes through opening 42 in member I 9 and opening 43' in member II in securing the members together. A removable nut 2i is suitably secured on the lower end of pin 22. The pin 44 extends through openings 46 in member I9 and into opening 41 in member II.

The cab like portion of the locomotive con sists of block 25 and roof member 26 which is suitably secured to the block 25. Through an opening in block 25 extends pin 21 which is secured in one end of boiler member 23. Nut 28 is suitably secured on the free end of pin 21. In the lower part of member 25 is secured pin 48 and this pin passes through opening 50 in member and extends into opening 5I in member I I.

The tender comprises upper block 35, a block 35 of substantially same thickness as member I9, and lower member 3B suitably secured together. In opening 51 in block 36 is suitably secured pin 56 which passes through opening 53 in member 35 and opening 59 in lower member 30. The lower end 38 of pin 56 is threaded for the reception of nut 31.

In the block 35 is opening 53 in which is secured pin 52. This pin extends through opening 54 of member 35 and into aperture 55 in member 3D.

Secured to member 3U are blocks 3l through which extends axles 32 and upon these axles are rotatably mounted wheels 33. The wheels are held in place by means of nuts 34 orAby other suitable means.

Some of the purposes of using two members I9 and 35 with a little space between them where they meet near one end of a train unit are; to permit more economical packaging, to insure that all the wheels will contact the oor or surface upon which they are placed, and to give an articulated train, i. e., a coupling between train units that permit some side movement of one unit without corresponding side movement of the adjacent unit. Sumcient clearance is provided for the end of member 35 under cab 25 so that relative free limited. side movement of the various units may occur.

It is to be lunderstood that the same kind of coupling as is shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be used between other units of a train, where a full train is desired.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawing members I9 and 35 extend the length of two units or cars, in the drawing, an engine and a tender. A slightly thicker member or piece II which extends beyond the end of member I9 and the extending end represents the pilot, commonly known as cowcatcher. The members II and I9 are of substantially the same width but it is to be understood that they may be of different widths. Secured near one end of the member I I is block I2 in which is secured axle I3. On axle I3 are placed wheels I4 and these wheels are held thereon by any suitable means.

The larger wheels I8 of the engine are mounted upon axles II which axles are secured in the member II. In assembling the engine, boiler representing member is placed upon member I9 and the members II, I9 and 20 are secured together by pin 6i). r'he pin 60 has a large head and a divided lower end. The lower end is divided by slot 6I and a member 62 cooperates with the split end of vthe pin in holding members Il, I9, and 20 in the assembled position.

The cab is formed of a separate block 25 and an opening G4 extends longitudinally therethrough. A pin G3 is secured in boiler block 20 and Vextends through opening 64 in the cab block. The cab block 25 is held in assembled position on the split end ofl pin 63 by member 62.

The tender block as shown is secured on the member 25 of a pin 65 which is secured in block 36 and passes through members 3U and 35.

It is preferred that the train be made entirely of wood as under the present conditions metal or plastic are not available for toys, but it is to be understood that other materials than wood can be utilized.

Certain changes and modications may be made by those skilled in the art which changes and modications fall within the scope of the appended claims. This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 485,954, led May 5, 1943.

claim:

l. A toy, comprising a plurality of blocks suitably shaped to form the upper part of train units, a horizontally extending member upon which the blocks representing upper parts of train units are placed, a block representing each unit spaced on the horizontal member from adjacent train unit blocks, wheel supporting blocks spaced beneath the upper train blocks,Y and means passing through the horizontal member for securing the upper train representing blocks and the wheel supporting blocks in place, said horizontal extending member being divided into two parts for each two units and said division occurring adjacent one end of two units between the upper and lower blocks.

2. A toy, comprising a plurality of blocks suitably shaped to form the upper part of train units, horizontally extending member upon which the blocks representing upper parts of train units are placed in spaced relationship to each other, lower blocks spaced beneath the upper blocks,

' wheel supporting members secured to the lower blocks and means for securing the upper blocks, horizontally extending member and lower blocks in assembled position, the said horizontally extending member being divided into two parts for each two units and the division occurring between vthe upper and lower blocks.

3. A take-down toy vehicle comprising a plurality of units, each unit including a top member suitably shaped to represent the upper part of a vehicle, a horizontally extending middle member, a bottom wheel carrying member, and at least one pin member passing through the said horizontally extending middle member for securing the members in the assembled positions, said middle member ^being divided into two parts for each two units and the said division occuring between the upper and bottom members.

4. A take apart toy train including a series of train representing units; a longitudinally extending member common to a series of train units; spaced wheel carrying blocks upon the lower side of the longitudinally extending member; an engine boiler block; an engine cab block lying end to end with the boiler block; a pin like member extending into the opening in the boiler block and secured therein, the said pin extending through the cab block; a removable means on the pin extending through the cab block for holding the cab block and the boiler block in assembled position; blocks spaced from the cab 

